There were no glorious uncertainties on the third day of the Irani Cup at the Chinnaswamy Stadium as, expectedly, Rest of India's batsmen piled on the runs against Rajasthan. M Vijay continued to enjoy himself, reaching the highest individual score in the tournament's history, beating a 22-year-old record held by Praveen Amre, to pretty much ensure the Ranji champions would be denied the Irani Cup for a seventh year in a row.

As early as Saturday morning, when the openers Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane were utterly at ease against Rajasthan, the discussion in the press box was about when Rest of India will decide to declare, and at what score. The majority view was that Rajasthan would be in the field at least till tea on the third day; it turned out that Rest of India batted for almost an hour after tea, till the lead stretched to a mammoth 354.

Worryingly, for Rajasthan, the odd ball stayed low making it difficult for the batsmen, and one from left-arm spinner Gajendra Singh took off from the rough, spinning past the outside edge and the wicketkeeper's shoulder. It was by no means a difficult track to bat on yet, but was promising to become one as Rajasthan looked to bat out the best part of two days.

That also meant the day wasn't an absolute cruise for the Rest of India batsmen, as it had been on Saturday. Vijay began with a couple of wristy square-leg boundaries, and within the first half-hour had reprised the two signature shots of his innings: an off-drive between the bowler and mid-off, and a carve through cover for another boundary. But there were a few false shots as well, like the Chinese cut for four off left-arm quick bowler Aniket Choudhary and several missed shots with the ball going through to the keeper.

Just before the first drinks break of the day, Vijay brought up his third double-hundred, with a drive for four to long-on. The stream of drives through the V continued, and he also guided several wide deliveries to the third man boundary as he neared his previous personal best of 243. He was put down by Sumit Mathur at long-on on 220, and looked plumb lbw to Mathur on 258 but he persevered, not showing too many signs of tiredness. He was hobbling soon after as a delivery sneaked between his pad and thigh and painfully struck him on the knee. It wasn't long before he finally holed out to long-on, walking off for 266.

Like each of the other batsmen before him, S Badrinath also helped himself to a half-century, and with lunch around the corner, he looked good for his first first-class hundred since last December. Instead, he was done in by a shortish ball from Deepak Chahar which kept low.

That didn't affect Rest of India too much, as Dinesh Karthik joined the half-century party, with a 56 that included ten boundaries. He used his feet to the spinners, and was forceful on the cut against anything short. He was looking to defend a delivery from the offspinner Madhur Khatri off the front foot, but it spun past the inside-edge and he was gone lbw for 56.

Rajasthan's bowlers finally got some respite late in the day, as Cheteshwar Pujara declared with 16 overs remaining. Rajasthan had waited half a day to get their first wicket on Saturday, but Rest of India needed only four deliveries as Ishant Sharma got one to swerve away and take Ankit Lamba's outside edge to Dinesh Karthik, who took over the keeping duties from Wriddhiman Saha for the second innings. On the evidence so far, Rajasthan have given little reason to believe the Irani Cup won't be as comprehensively one-sided as it has been over the past few years. Taking the game to the fifth day itself will be an achievement for them.

Hope the selectors will not leave this guy like badri... Because I don't know why people ignore the talents just like that...

POSTED BY
Uruloki
on | September 24, 2012, 7:03 GMT

@sakthivel: Sachin, Dravid and Laxman proved their merit at the highest level. Vijay has failed time and again in test cricket. There is no merit in picking players who cannot play against top quality attacks. Rajasthan's attack wasn't great by any standards. Rather give a chance in the test team to those who haven't been tried enough like Rahane, Sharma and Mukund than persist with continual failures like Vijay and Raina!!!

POSTED BY
on | September 24, 2012, 6:28 GMT

Vijay is like sehwag of domestic side, he will score once in a bluemoon. But one thing is sure, he cant be stopped on his particular day. I just need vijay to maintain consistency even if he scores below 100. Hope vijay to maintain this form in upcoming tournaments.

POSTED BY
TRAM
on | September 24, 2012, 4:17 GMT

@StraightHit, do you have the time to check in cricinfo stats for the first few test matches when Vijay deputed for India in TESTS?? He is the only next generation player (after Gambhir/Sewhag) who gave opening century partnerships in TESTS for India in last many years. Putting Rahane or Pujara in the opening slot will only destroy their careers since they are NOT opening batsmen. Playing new ball is a totally different game. The selectors destroyed Dinesh Karthik's career by putting him as opener. fyi. With the way Gambhir and Sehwag are playing nowadays, we need a solid opener who can score huge scores.

POSTED BY
kumarkunal
on | September 24, 2012, 3:49 GMT

If Sehwag need to be replaced, then first Rahane should get the chance, ahead of Vijay.

POSTED BY
Sakthiivel
on | September 23, 2012, 20:59 GMT

@ StraightHit :If domestic tournaments cant give you a better players how sachin ,dravid and laxman came. Vijay is just 28 year of age, If 32 old spinner can make it to Indian team who know Vijay can come into the squad. It shows your lack of cricket knowledge.

POSTED BY
on | September 23, 2012, 18:08 GMT

Not even a single bowler in this Rajasthan team is capable of breaking in to the Indian team.scores against such sub standard bowling should not be given much importance by the selectors.Performances in India A teams tour outside the sub continent should be watched by the selectors .To happen that regular tours at least twice a year should be conducted. A good start has been done this year by organizing A team tours to West Indies and now New Zealand .

POSTED BY
Rams20
on | September 23, 2012, 17:38 GMT

well Done Vijay....be consistent

POSTED BY
CricketChat
on | September 23, 2012, 15:54 GMT

Looks like Ind cricket is taking a step backwards again where 600 + or even 700+ totals in domestic tournaments used be quite common while their national team was struggling to even draw tests, much less win anything outside India. I read nothing into Vijay's meaningless score against nondescript Rajastan's bowling. He is done and dusted as far as international cricket is concerned. Just another domestic tiger who can't cut it at top level.

POSTED BY
Sakthiivel
on | September 23, 2012, 15:44 GMT

Well played vijay. He should be in Indian team atleast T20

POSTED BY
on | September 24, 2012, 10:37 GMT

Hope the selectors will not leave this guy like badri... Because I don't know why people ignore the talents just like that...

POSTED BY
Uruloki
on | September 24, 2012, 7:03 GMT

@sakthivel: Sachin, Dravid and Laxman proved their merit at the highest level. Vijay has failed time and again in test cricket. There is no merit in picking players who cannot play against top quality attacks. Rajasthan's attack wasn't great by any standards. Rather give a chance in the test team to those who haven't been tried enough like Rahane, Sharma and Mukund than persist with continual failures like Vijay and Raina!!!

POSTED BY
on | September 24, 2012, 6:28 GMT

Vijay is like sehwag of domestic side, he will score once in a bluemoon. But one thing is sure, he cant be stopped on his particular day. I just need vijay to maintain consistency even if he scores below 100. Hope vijay to maintain this form in upcoming tournaments.

POSTED BY
TRAM
on | September 24, 2012, 4:17 GMT

@StraightHit, do you have the time to check in cricinfo stats for the first few test matches when Vijay deputed for India in TESTS?? He is the only next generation player (after Gambhir/Sewhag) who gave opening century partnerships in TESTS for India in last many years. Putting Rahane or Pujara in the opening slot will only destroy their careers since they are NOT opening batsmen. Playing new ball is a totally different game. The selectors destroyed Dinesh Karthik's career by putting him as opener. fyi. With the way Gambhir and Sehwag are playing nowadays, we need a solid opener who can score huge scores.

POSTED BY
kumarkunal
on | September 24, 2012, 3:49 GMT

If Sehwag need to be replaced, then first Rahane should get the chance, ahead of Vijay.

POSTED BY
Sakthiivel
on | September 23, 2012, 20:59 GMT

@ StraightHit :If domestic tournaments cant give you a better players how sachin ,dravid and laxman came. Vijay is just 28 year of age, If 32 old spinner can make it to Indian team who know Vijay can come into the squad. It shows your lack of cricket knowledge.

POSTED BY
on | September 23, 2012, 18:08 GMT

Not even a single bowler in this Rajasthan team is capable of breaking in to the Indian team.scores against such sub standard bowling should not be given much importance by the selectors.Performances in India A teams tour outside the sub continent should be watched by the selectors .To happen that regular tours at least twice a year should be conducted. A good start has been done this year by organizing A team tours to West Indies and now New Zealand .

POSTED BY
Rams20
on | September 23, 2012, 17:38 GMT

well Done Vijay....be consistent

POSTED BY
CricketChat
on | September 23, 2012, 15:54 GMT

Looks like Ind cricket is taking a step backwards again where 600 + or even 700+ totals in domestic tournaments used be quite common while their national team was struggling to even draw tests, much less win anything outside India. I read nothing into Vijay's meaningless score against nondescript Rajastan's bowling. He is done and dusted as far as international cricket is concerned. Just another domestic tiger who can't cut it at top level.

POSTED BY
Sakthiivel
on | September 23, 2012, 15:44 GMT

Well played vijay. He should be in Indian team atleast T20

POSTED BY
GSP17
on | September 23, 2012, 13:32 GMT

Well played Vijay.. Provided the poor form of present indian openers, High time for selecting him into national squad...

POSTED BY
meastrostroke
on | September 23, 2012, 13:18 GMT

Come on MVijay.. underperforming sehwag needs to be replaced. when Mvijay on song can match sehwag's hand eye coordiantion. No need to say his better fielding abilities. Best of luck

POSTED BY
jay_vkjay
on | September 23, 2012, 12:07 GMT

Murali Vijay batted superbly. Looks like he is in right path to make a come back in Indian test side. Rahane, Pujara and Badrinath all got good starts,but star of the show was Vijay.36 fours+6 sixes makes 180 out of 266.

No featured comments at the moment.

POSTED BY
jay_vkjay
on | September 23, 2012, 12:07 GMT

Murali Vijay batted superbly. Looks like he is in right path to make a come back in Indian test side. Rahane, Pujara and Badrinath all got good starts,but star of the show was Vijay.36 fours+6 sixes makes 180 out of 266.

POSTED BY
meastrostroke
on | September 23, 2012, 13:18 GMT

Come on MVijay.. underperforming sehwag needs to be replaced. when Mvijay on song can match sehwag's hand eye coordiantion. No need to say his better fielding abilities. Best of luck

POSTED BY
GSP17
on | September 23, 2012, 13:32 GMT

Well played Vijay.. Provided the poor form of present indian openers, High time for selecting him into national squad...

POSTED BY
Sakthiivel
on | September 23, 2012, 15:44 GMT

Well played vijay. He should be in Indian team atleast T20

POSTED BY
CricketChat
on | September 23, 2012, 15:54 GMT

Looks like Ind cricket is taking a step backwards again where 600 + or even 700+ totals in domestic tournaments used be quite common while their national team was struggling to even draw tests, much less win anything outside India. I read nothing into Vijay's meaningless score against nondescript Rajastan's bowling. He is done and dusted as far as international cricket is concerned. Just another domestic tiger who can't cut it at top level.

POSTED BY
Rams20
on | September 23, 2012, 17:38 GMT

well Done Vijay....be consistent

POSTED BY
on | September 23, 2012, 18:08 GMT

Not even a single bowler in this Rajasthan team is capable of breaking in to the Indian team.scores against such sub standard bowling should not be given much importance by the selectors.Performances in India A teams tour outside the sub continent should be watched by the selectors .To happen that regular tours at least twice a year should be conducted. A good start has been done this year by organizing A team tours to West Indies and now New Zealand .

POSTED BY
Sakthiivel
on | September 23, 2012, 20:59 GMT

@ StraightHit :If domestic tournaments cant give you a better players how sachin ,dravid and laxman came. Vijay is just 28 year of age, If 32 old spinner can make it to Indian team who know Vijay can come into the squad. It shows your lack of cricket knowledge.

POSTED BY
kumarkunal
on | September 24, 2012, 3:49 GMT

If Sehwag need to be replaced, then first Rahane should get the chance, ahead of Vijay.

POSTED BY
TRAM
on | September 24, 2012, 4:17 GMT

@StraightHit, do you have the time to check in cricinfo stats for the first few test matches when Vijay deputed for India in TESTS?? He is the only next generation player (after Gambhir/Sewhag) who gave opening century partnerships in TESTS for India in last many years. Putting Rahane or Pujara in the opening slot will only destroy their careers since they are NOT opening batsmen. Playing new ball is a totally different game. The selectors destroyed Dinesh Karthik's career by putting him as opener. fyi. With the way Gambhir and Sehwag are playing nowadays, we need a solid opener who can score huge scores.